Elevation Graphics
Quick video
- Elevation Graphics Overview
- The Elevation Graphics Library
- Placing a Block from the Elevation Graphics Library
- Saving Blocks Into the Elevation Graphics Library
- Editing Your Custom Elevation Graphics Blocks
- Assigning Data to Elevation Graphics You've Already Placed
- Block Libraries, Dynamic Blocks & Colored Blocks
- Related Webinars
- Troubleshooting
Our Elevation Graphics library includes blocks that provide an elevation view (side view) of objects.
We made some major updates to both our Plan Graphics and Elevation Graphics block libraries back in 2019, with tons of new blocks and an updated source block folder organization. See our Updated Blocks and Block Folder Structure article to earn more about these updated blocks, how to get them, and how to integrate your custom blocks into the new folder structure.
Elevation Graphics Overview
Open the Elevation Graphics tool:
F/X Site ribbon, Elevation Graphics flyout
F/X Details ribbon, Elevation Graphics flyout
F/X Graphics pull-down menu
or type ElevationGraphics in the Command line
When you select this tool, the Elevation Graphics dialog box will open. Click the name of a library to display its contents (example: SITE_FURNISHINGS). A dialog box showing several options for the selected library will open.
1. Use this search box to search for a block in the Elevation Graphics library.
2. The left pane of the dialog box shows the Elevation Graphics library categories. Click the plus (+) sign next to a category to expand it and show its subcategories. Seeing duplicate categories here? Here's why, and what to do.
Click a subcategory to select it and show previews of the blocks it contains.
3. Use these options to Expand all categories to show their subcategories, or Collapse all categories to hide their subcategories.
4. The blocks within the selected subcategory appear as thumbnails in the area on the right side of the dialog box. Click a thumbnail to see an enlarged view of the block, then click Add to place that block in your drawing, or click Close to return to the Elevation Graphics library to continue browsing.
5. After selecting a block subcategory, use these checkboxes to filter the list of blocks. Each subcategory will have its own specific filter checkboxes.
6. Use these buttons to toggle between available views of the selected block. If the view options are grayed out, it means no alternative view is available for that block. The view you have active will be the version of the selected block that places in your plan when you click Add.
The Elevation Graphics Library
The list of categories and subcategories in the Elevation Graphics dialog box is a mirror image of the contents of the Elevation_Graphics folder in your LandFX folder. (The full path to this folder is LandFX/Blocks/Graphics/Elevation_Graphics).
Notice that these subfolders are reflected in the subcategories listed in the Site Furnishings dialog box.
Seeing duplicate folders here? Here's why, and what to do.
The Elevation Graphics tool is simply a block manager. As such, it provides location and file system for this type of block.
Placing a Block from the Elevation Graphics Library
To place a block from the Elevation Graphics library, select the block preview from its subcategory, then click Add to begin placing the block.
Keyboard Commands for Placing Elevation Graphics
Our keyboard commands for placing objects now apply to generic blocks, such as Elevation Graphics. Use these easy, intuitive keyboard commands to toggle between blocks, block categories, and views of the selected block on the fly, as well as enter our Copy along tools. More information
Saving Blocks Into the Elevation Graphics Library
If you have an item you want to save within the Elevation Graphics library, use the Save Block tool to achieve this quickly and automatically create a thumbnail image of your item.
When you use Save Block to save an item, the system will take you to the folder LandFX/Blocks.
Because you're saving a block, click the Elevation_Graphics folder to save within it. When you do, you'll see subfolders if they exist.
You can also use Windows to create a subfolder.
Click a subfolder, or create a new subfolder. You can save within the file system as you want it to be organized.
Because all our default blocks are now stored on the Cloud, you may not see each of these subfolders until you have selected one or more blocks contained in that subfolder.
The Elevation Graphics tool is simply a block manager. As such, it provides a location and file system for this type of block.
Save the item as indicated in the Save Block tool.
Editing Your Custom Elevation Graphics Blocks
If a custom block you've added to the Elevation Graphics library is not scaled correctly or is not set to proper rotation, or if you want to open the block's source file to customize it, select the block's thumbnail preview in the Elevation Graphics dialog box and click Edit to make changes to that block.
You can then view and edit information about the block.
1. Larger preview of the selected block
2. If you want, type a Description for the block.
3. Set a Scale for the block. In this example, the item is set for Actual Size, meaning it will go into the drawing at full size rather than Manual or Dim Scale.
4. The Rotation that will be applied to the block when placed in a drawing. In this example, the Rotation is set to Manual will allow you to rotate the block to your desired angle when you place it in the drawing.
5. Use this menu to select the Units assigned to the block: Inches, Feet, Meters, etc.
6. Click Save to save your changes.
If you change the Units of a block in the Elevation Graphics library and then add the block as a Reference Note, you will then need to change the units in the Reference Note as well.
Assigning Data to Elevation Graphics You've Already Placed
Quick video
What if you've you've already placed several Elevation Graphics in your drawing, but you now want to assign those objects with data (such as cost) and call them out in a materials schedule?
We've engineered a quick and simple way to do just that – by converting them into Amenity (Object) Reference Notes. For instructions, see our Assign Data to Generic Blocks documentation.
Block Libraries, Dynamic Blocks & Colored Blocks
We're constantly expanding our block libraries, updating our blocks, and adding dynamic block support. We've also added color fills to most of the blocks in our Elevation Graphics and Plan Graphics block libraries. For more information, please see our documentation sections on:
- Our site block libraries
- Colorizing Site & Hardscape Blocks (both ours and yours)
- Dynamic Blocks
Related Webinars
- Fundamentals of Blocks: Take a tour of the streamlined process for proper block creation and management brought to you by Land F/X. We’ll cover the dos and and don’ts of creating and saving blocks, and demonstrate how our numerous block library locations work with different parts of the software. (1 hr 2 min)
- Working with Blocks: We go over the role played by blocks within our software, showing the various types of blocks you have access to and how they all function. We'll also show you how to integrate your personal set of custom blocks into our system. (51 min)
Troubleshooting
Issue: Elevation Graphics are missing, not installed, or unavailable
Issue: You are experiencing a significant delay when attempting to add or place Elevation Graphics
Issue: Bad DXF group (10) error when placing an Elevation Graphic
Issue: You saw a Missing File Error when attempting to place an Elevation Graphics block
Issue: Your customblocksare not showing up as options in the Elevation Graphics dialog box
Issue: The list of block categories list is missing from the left pane of the Elevation Graphics dialog box
Issue: The Elevation Graphics dialog box is not loading completely
Contact
- Land F/X
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